Ballistic resistant panel edge enhanced integrity

Abstract

A ballistic resistant panel assembly includes a plurality of ballistic resistant plies positioned in a stack. A binding layer which includes a first portion which extends along and overlies a first ply of the stack; a second portion extends from the first portion and extends along peripheral edges of the plurality of the ballistic resistant plies; and a third portion extends from the second portion and extends along a last ballistic resistant ply such that the last ply is positioned between the first ply and the third portion. A plurality of stitches extend through the first and third portions of the binding layer and through first and last plies of the stack, such that the plurality of stitches form a configuration which includes rows of stitches which extend spaced apart from one another and extend spaced apart from a peripheral stack edge of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A ballistic resistant panel assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of ballistic resistant plies positioned in a stack; 
 a binding layer, wherein: 
 a first portion of the binding layer extends along and overlies a first ballistic resistant ply of the stack; 
 a second portion of the binding layer extends from the first portion of the binding layer and extends along peripheral edges of the plurality of the ballistic resistant plies in the stack, wherein the second portion has a length positioned and extending only between shoulder portions of a front ballistic resistant panel assembly; and 
 a third portion of the binding layer extends from the second portion of the binding layer and extends along a last ballistic resistant ply of the stack such that the last ballistic resistant ply is positioned between the first ballistic resistant ply and the third portion of the binding layer; and 
 a plurality of stitches extend through the first portion and the third portion of the binding layer and through the first and last ballistic resistant plies, such that the plurality of stitches form a configuration which comprises rows of stitches which extend spaced apart from one another and spaced apart from a peripheral stack edge of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies. 
 
     
     
       2. The ballistic resistant panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one ballistic resistant ply of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies comprises woven fibers. 
     
     
       3. The ballistic resistant panel assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the woven fibers comprise one of an aramid or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. 
     
     
       4. The ballistic resistant panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one ballistic resistant ply of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies comprises a composite unidirectional fiber laminate. 
     
     
       5. The ballistic resistant panel assembly of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the composite unidirectional fiber laminate includes at least one layer of a plurality of first fibers which extend in a first direction and at least one layer which includes a plurality of second fibers which extend in a second direction; and 
 the first direction is transverse to the second direction. 
 
     
     
       6. The ballistic resistant panel assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one layer of the plurality of the first fibers which extend in the first direction and the at least one layer of the plurality of second fibers which extend in the second direction comprise one of an aramid or an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. 
     
     
       7. The ballistic resistant panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the binding layer comprises a composition of one of nylon, aramid, or polyethylene. 
     
     
       8. The ballistic resistant panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a thread member of the plurality of stitches comprises a composition of nylon, aramid, or polyethylene. 
     
     
       9. The ballistic resistant panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rows of stitches extend parallel relative to one another, and parallel to the peripheral stack edge. 
     
     
       10. The ballistic resistant panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each row of stitches includes a back stitch. 
     
     
       11. The ballistic resistant panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of stitches form a configuration of stitches of a rectangular box configuration with an “x” configuration positioned within the rectangular box configuration. 
     
     
       12. A method for fabricating a ballistic resistant panel assembly, comprising:
 positioning a plurality of ballistic resistant plies into a stack; 
 placing a binding layer, wherein: 
 a first portion of the binding layer extends along and overlies a first ballistic ply of the of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies; 
 a second portion of the binding layer extends from the first portion of the binding layer and extends along peripheral edges of the plurality of the ballistic resistant plies in the stack, wherein the second portion has a length positioned and extending only between shoulder portions of a front ballistic resistant panel assembly; and 
 a third portion of the binding layer extends from the second portion of the binding layer and extends along a last ballistic resistant ply of the stack such that the last ballistic resistant ply is positioned between the first ballistic resistant ply and the third portion of the binding layer; and 
 placing a plurality of stitches through the first portion and the third portion of the binding layer and through the first and last ballistic resistant plies, such that the plurality of stitches form a configuration which comprise rows of stitches which extend spaced apart from one another and spaced apart from a peripheral stack edge of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least one ply of the plurality of ballistic plies comprises a fabric constructed from woven fibers composed of high strength fibers. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least one ply of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies comprises a composite unidirectional fiber laminate. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 placing the plurality of stitches to form a configuration of rows of stitches which extend and parallel to one another. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein placing the plurality of stitches forms one of:
 each row of stitches has a back stitch; or 
 a configuration of stitches which includes a rectangular box configuration with an “x” configuration positioned within the rectangular box configuration. 
 
     
     
       17. A ballistic resistant panel assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of ballistic resistant plies positioned in a stack; 
 a binding layer, wherein: 
 a first portion of the binding layer extends along and overlying a first ballistic resistant ply of the stack; 
 a second portion of the binding layer extends from the first portion of the binding layer and extends along peripheral edges of the ballistic resistant plies in the stack; and 
 a third portion of the binding layer extends from the second portion of the binding layer and extends along a last ballistic resistant ply of the stack, such that the last ballistic resistant ply is positioned between the first ballistic resistant ply and the third portion of the binding layer; and 
 a securement mechanism which binds together the first portion of the binding layer to the first ballistic resistant ply and the third portion of the binding layer to the last ballistic resistant ply, wherein the securement mechanism comprises one of: 
 an adhesive layer positioned between the first portion of the binding layer and the first ballistic resistant ply and positioned between the third portion of the binding layer and the last ballistic resistant ply wherein the adhesive layer is further positioned between adjacent ballistic resistant plies positioned between the first ballistic resistant ply and the last ballistic resistant ply; or 
 a compression heated molded layer positioned between the first portion of the binding layer and the first ballistic resistant ply and positioned between the third portion of the binding layer and the last ballistic resistant ply wherein the compression heated molded layer is further positioned between adjacent ballistic resistant plies positioned between the first ballistic resistant ply and the last ballistic resistant ply; or 
 a plurality of rivets which extend through the first portion of the binding layer, the first ballistic resistant ply, the last ballistic resistant ply and the third portion of the binding layer, wherein the plurality of rivets further include extending the rivets through a plurality of ballistic resistant plies positioned between the first ballistic resistant ply and the last ballistic ply. 
 
     
     
       18. A method for fabricating a ballistic resistant panel assembly, comprising the steps of:
 positioning a plurality of ballistic resistant plies into a stack; 
 placing a binding layer, wherein: 
 a first portion of the binding layer extends along and overlies a first ballistic resistant ply, of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies; 
 a second portion of the binding layer extends from the first portion of the binding layer and extends along peripheral edges of the ballistic resistant plies in the stack; and 
 a third portion of the binding layer extends from the second portion of the binding layer and extends along a last ballistic resistant ply of the stack, such that the last ballistic resistant ply is positioned between the first ballistic resistant ply and the third portion of the binding layer; and 
 placing a securement mechanism which binds together the first portion of the binding layer to the first ballistic resistant ply and which binds the third portion of the binding layer to the last ballistic resistant ply, wherein the securement mechanism comprises one of: 
 an adhesive layer positioned between the first portion of the binding layer and the first ballistic resistant ply and positioned between the third portion of the binding layer and the last ballistic resistant ply wherein the adhesive layer is further positioned between adjacent ballistic resistant plies positioned between the first ballistic resistant ply and the last ballistic resistant ply; or 
 a compression heated molded layer positioned between the first portion of the binding layer and the first ballistic resistant ply and positioned between the third portion of the binding layer and the last ballistic resistant ply wherein the compression heated molded layer is further positioned between adjacent ballistic resistant plies positioned between the first ballistic resistant ply and the last ballistic resistant ply; or 
 a plurality of rivets which extend through the first portion of the binding layer, the first ballistic resistant ply, the last ballistic resistant ply and the third portion of the binding layer, wherein the plurality of rivets further include extending the rivets through a plurality of ballistic resistant plies positioned between the first ballistic resistant ply and the last ballistic ply. 
 
     
     
       19. A ballistic resistant panel assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of ballistic resistant plies positioned in a stack; and 
 a binding layer, wherein: 
 a first portion of the binding layer extends along and overlies a first ballistic resistant ply of the stack; 
 a second portion of the binding layer extends from the first portion of the binding layer and extends along peripheral edges of the plurality of the ballistic resistant plies in the stack, wherein the second portion has a length positioned and extending only between shoulder portions of a front ballistic resistant panel assembly; and 
 a third portion of the binding layer extends from the second portion of the binding layer and extends along a last ballistic resistant ply of the stack such that the last ballistic resistant ply is positioned between the first ballistic resistant ply and the third portion of the binding layer. 
 
     
     
       20. The ballistic resistant panel assembly of  claim 19 , further includes a plurality of stitches which extend through the first portion and the third portion of the binding layer and through the first and last ballistic resistant plies. 
     
     
       21. The ballistic resistant panel assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of stitches form a configuration which comprises rows of stitches which extend spaced apart from one another and spaced apart from a peripheral stack edge of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies. 
     
     
       22. A method for fabricating a ballistic resistant panel assembly, comprising:
 positioning a plurality of ballistic resistant plies into a stack; and 
 placing a binding layer, wherein: 
 a first portion of the binding layer extends along and overlies a first ballistic ply of the of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies; 
 a second portion of the binding layer extends from the first portion of the binding layer and extends along peripheral edges of the plurality of the ballistic resistant plies in the stack, wherein the second portion has a length positioned and extending only between shoulder portions of a front ballistic resistant panel assembly; and 
 a third portion of the binding layer extends from the second portion of the binding layer and extends along a last ballistic resistant ply of the stack such that the last ballistic resistant ply is positioned between the first ballistic resistant ply and the third portion of the binding layer. 
 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22  further includes placing a plurality of stitches through the first portion and the third portion of the binding layer and through the first and last ballistic resistant plies, such that the plurality of stitches form a configuration which comprise rows of stitches. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23  wherein the rows of stitches extend spaced apart from one another and spaced apart from a peripheral stack edge of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies.